Obesity and high refined carbohydrate intake may cause oesophageal cancer, according to latest research study published in "The American Journal of Gastroenterology". Incidence of esophageal cancer is high in very obese people with BMI is more than 35. Obesity is also linked with Prostate cancer, breast and uterine cancer, colon cancer and kidney cancer. Risk for esophageal cancer is high in obese men than obese women. This research was done by Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland. Oesophageal cancer has very poor prognosis with below 20% survival rates. It is the eighth leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Exact causes of oesophageal cancer are remaining unknown. People with gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at high risk for esophageal cancer. Esophagectomy appears to be as safe in obese patients as in non-obese ones. One should need to decrease carbohydrate intake especially refined ones to prevent obesity epidemic. … [Read more...]
What are Trans fats?
Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in vitamin absorption both animal and plant-products contain fat. Fats are of two types: 1. Unsaturated fats are beneficial when consumed in moderation. 2. Saturated and Trans fat are harmful to the body. Therefore choose foods low in both saturated and Trans fats for a healthy diet. What are trans fats? Trans fat (also known as Trans fatty acids), is a specific type of fat formed when liquid oils are converted into solid fats by adding hydrogen through process of hydrogenation. This increases stability of flavor and palatability and shelf life of food. The Trans fatty food is unable to break down, So it accumulates in the body causing harmful effects. Foods containing Trans fat: A small amount of trans fat is naturally found in some animal foods such as Butter, Cheese, milk products, Beef and lamb. Other foods containing trans fat are: 1. Some margarine, candies, cookies, Snack foods, French fries, noodles 2. Vegetable shortenings, Fried foods, Backed foods and other processed foods made with hydrogenated Vegetable oils. The Nutritionists advises us a total fat in take of not more than 30 per cent of calories is ideal in the daily in take of food. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) recommends that trans fat should not be taken in food at all. Harmful Effects due to trans fats: 1. Cardiovascular risk: The primary health risk from trans fat consumption is more risk of Cardiovascular disease. The consumption of trans fatty acids raises levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduces levels of HDL (High Density lipoprotein) which is good cholesterol. 2. It causes the arteries to become clogged and develop heart disease and stroke. 3. There is a growing risk of Type-2 diabetes increase with trans fat consumption. 4.Trans fat may increase body weight and abdominal fat. 5. Trans fat causes liver dysfunction. 6. Trans fat intake is associated with greater risk of infertility of 50 per cent or more. 7. Trans fatty acids adversely affect the immune system in the body by lowering the efficiency of B-cell response and increases proliferation T-cells. 8. Trans fat lowers the amount of the cream in milk from lactating mothers and over all affects the quality of milk available to the infant. 9. Trans fatty acids affect the physiological functions of biological membranes that are critical for cell homeostasis. Some Foods and their tarns fat content is as shown below. 1. Salad and toppings-contains 3 % of Trans fat. 2. Potato chips and popcorn---4% 3. Fried potatoes ---8% 4. Margarine---17% 5. Animal products---21% 6. Cakes, cookies, pies, breads and pizzas---40% Steps to be taken to lower Trans fat in take: 1. Choose vegetable oils (expect coconut and palm oil) for cooking. 2. Limit foods which contain high amount of cholesterol such as liver and meat. 3. Most fish are in lower in saturated fat compared to meat and fish contains Omega 3 fatty acids which protects the heart. Hence fish may be taken in as food. 4. Replace saturated and Trans fat with mono and polyunsaturated fats in the food. 5. Avoid taking hydrogenated oil foods such as Dalda and Vanaspati. Trans fat is not essential and provide no known benefit to human health and more over it causes harm to the human body, hence it is always good not to take trans fat containing food preparations in our diet. Source: The Hindu … [Read more...]
New indicator to evaluate Obesity related diseases
Body-Mass index (BMI) is replaced by Waist-to-Hip ratio (WHR) as a better indicator to evaluate a person’s health status. WHR is ratio between waist and hip circumferences. For women, waist to hip ratio should not be more than o.8. For men, waist to hip ratio should not be more than o.95. Older people with high waist to hip ratios have a higher mortality risk than those with high body mass index. WHR is the best obesity indicator for assessing heart attack and other obesity related disorders like stroke and diabetes. As per WHR, fat is more important than person’s weight to decide health status. WHR indicates the proportion of fat stored on your body around your waist and the hip. Fat is stored in the body in two ways. Around the abdomen –Apple shape. Around the hip – Pear shape. Your health is affected not only by amount of fat, but also where that fat is stored. Abdominal fat is more important in assessing your health status. It changes the hormonal levels to cause inflammation which in turn leads to clogged arteries. Clogged arteries may gradually cause heart attack. Please comment on this article. … [Read more...]
